A medical device transportation unit comprising an upper compartment, a center compartment and a lower compartment, all said compartments having a front panel, a rear panel and two opposite side panels, a grated shelf between said upper compartment and said center compartment, a grated shelf between said center compartment and said lower compartment, the front panel of said upper compartment, the front panel of said lower compartment and all four panels of said center compartment being removably attached.
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1. A medical device transportation unit comprising an upper compartment, a center compartment and a lower compartment, all said compartments having a front panel, a rear panel and two opposite side panels, a fixed grated shelf of parallel bars between said upper compartment and said center compartment, a fixed grated shelf of parallel bars between said center compartment and said lower compartment, both of said grated shelves having a cut-out opening therein, the front panel of said upper compartment, the front panel of said lower compartment and all four panels of said center compartment being completely removable from said unit.
8. A continuous positive airway pressure machine transporting unit comprising an upper compartment, a center compartment and a lower compartment, all said compartments having a front panel, a rear panel and two opposite side panels, a fixed grated shelf of parallel bars between said upper compartment and said center compartment, a fixed grated shelf of parallel bars between said center compartment and said lower compartment, both said shelves having an opening cut-out therein, the front panel of said upper compartment, the front panel of said lower compartment and all four panels of said center compartment being completely removable from said unit, tie-down straps removably attached to said central compartment grated shelf, a continuous positive airway pressure machine held by said tie-down straps in said central compartment, a hose and mask in said upper compartment, said hose passing through said opening cut-out in the shelf between said upper compartment and center compartment, said hose attached to said continuous positive airway pressure machine in said central compartment, a power cord in said lower compartment, said power cord passing through said opening cut-out in the shelf between said center compartment and lower compartment, said power cord attached to said continuous positive airway pressure machine in said central compartment.
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This invention is described in our Disclosure Document No. 513217 filed in the Patent Office on Jun. 5, 2002.
This invention comprises a medical device transportation unit for holding a variety of medical devices used by patients who suffer from illnesses or disorders that require them to travel with a medical device. One example of such a device is a continuous positive airway pressure machine, used to treat certain sleep disorders.
According to the American Academy of Sleep Medicine in Rochester, Minn., at least 84 disorders of sleeping and waking cause a lower quality of life by reducing personal health. It is estimated that in the United States, 20 million people have obstructed sleep apnea, most commonly diagnosed as a sleep disorder. Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) is the inability to breathe during normal sleep. A person's airway is held open by muscles controlling the tongue and soft palate. As the muscle relaxes, the airway becomes narrowed, and/or blocked, causing the individual to snort or gasp for air.
As a result of obstructive sleep apnea, many individuals may be awakened several times a night, causing severe sleep deprivation and daytime sleepiness. Untreated OSA may lead to serious health problems, including but not necessary limited to, high blood pressure, heart attack, stroke, road accidents, memory loss and sexual dysfunction. Other signs and/or symptoms include morning headaches or mood swings.
OSA is not limited to adults. Children may also be affected by this disorder. Children who struggle to breathe while snoring may be suffering from OSA. Again, the child may snort or gasp and as they snore, the child starts and stops breathing.
Some of the commonalities of OSA for both adults and children include, sleeping with the head of the bed propped up with many pillows, snoring loudly and often, stopping breathing during the night for short periods of time, sweating heavily during the night, sleeping restlessly, difficulty waking up, even though he or she has had enough sleep, headaches during the day, specifically in the morning, irritability, crankiness and day dreaming in school or at work.
The only way to detect and/or determine OSA is for the specialist to record the individual's sleep for at least one night in a laboratory, with a test called polysomnography (PSG). By placing recording devices on the individual's head and body, this will monitor sleep patterns. Specialists will also monitor and record brain waves, leg and arm movements, muscle activity, heartbeat and breathing pattern.
Treatment options include surgery, nasal continuous positive airway pressure devices and life style changes. For children with enlarged tonsils, the doctor may recommend an Aden tonsillectomy, (removing of the tonsils) or uvuloplatopharyngoplasty, (uvula, tonsils and part of the soft palate are removed). A tracheotomy, (opening a hole in the wind pipe at the neck) is generally used only for life threatening situations.
Other treatments include CPAP (Continuous Positive Airway Pressure) and BiPAP (Bi-level) machine treatment, in which a small mask is worn over the nose during sleep. The machine provides air pressure to the mask that keeps the throat from closing during sleep. This is very significant for both adults and children when surgical treatment is not possible or desirable, or when surgery does not cure the OSA. By preventing airway blockage and collapse, many of the symptoms associated with OSA are alleviated.
A serious concern for the individual is the transporting and/or storing of the CPAP/BiPAP machines; which must be used continuously by the individual in order to function daily. CPAP/BiPAP users complain about storage of the machines. In hotels, many times there are limited outlets. These outlets are often being used for the hotel's appliances such as lamps, and television sets. Another concern is where to place the equipment at night. The hoses of the machine can become tangled and/or kinked during sleep, which interferes with the airflow, disturbing one's sleep. Some users are concerned that friends and or relatives may see the machine. This is embarrassing to the user. When traveling on an airplane, the user must carry the machine in a shoulder bag, which is very heavy. In addition the machine can become damaged if thrown around in the storage compartment of the plane.
While OSA has been discussed in detail, other illnesses and medical conditions also require the use of a treatment machine, for instance, portable suction machines for the treatment of tracheotomy and paraplegic patients, portable oxygen tanks and equipment for lung diseases, nebulizer machines for quadriplegic and paraplegic patients or patients who continuously receive oxygen and humidifiers for asthma patients. All of these machines and devices require the patient to transport them when traveling with the same problems described for the OSA machines.
This invention comprises a three compartment transportation unit for a medical device, the size of a carry-on piece of luggage, which has wheels so that it can easily be transported. The upper compartment, if used for a CPAP/BiPAP machine, is used for the breathing mask and hose. The center compartment holds the blower of the machine, which in use gets very hot, and the lower compartment holds the electrical components including for instance, an extension cord and a multi-plug adaptor. There is also sufficient room in the lower compartment to store some clothing or nightwear or other items.
The four sides of the transportation unit around the center compartment, which holds the machine or blower, are totally removable, to allow proper cooling of the blower.
The floor of both the upper compartment and the center compartment are grills, allowing the easy tying down of the blower, or other machine. There is also an opening in each of the grills for passage of any hoses or wires from one compartment to the other.
The transportation unit of this invention provides the solution to the transporting, protection, and storage of a medical device, such as a CPAP/BiPAP machine, which provides great convenience for the patient, user, as well as providing storage that does not reveal the contents and the medical use of the machine, protecting the patient's privacy.
Accordingly, several objects and advantages of the invention are as follows:
It is an object of the present invention to provide a medical device transporting unit, adapted to transport a treatment machine and its attendant requirements.
Another object of the invention is to provide a medical device transporting unit which may be carried onto an airplane but holds the medical device securely and privately.
These, as well as other objects of the invention, will become obvious from the following description in which:
Referring now to the drawings there is shown in
Upper compartment 12 is covered on all four sides by panels 28, 3032, and 34. Side panels 28 and 32 have handles 36 and a similar handle on other side panel 32, for ease in carrying unit 10 when retractable handle 26 cannot be used. Back panel 30, as well as side panels 28 and 32 are fixedly attached and cannot be removed. Front panel 34 is totally removable, as shown in FIG. 2. Front panel 34 may be removably attached by any convenient means such as zippers, snaps or hook and loop fasteners.
Center compartment 14 is also covered on all four sides by side panel 38, back panel 40, opposite side panel 42, and front panel 44. All four panels of center compartment 14 are removable, for air cooling purposes, as explained in more detail below. The four panels of center compartment 14 are also removably attached by any convenient methods, such as zippers, snaps or hook and loop fasteners.
Lower compartment 16 has side panel 46, back panel 48, opposite side panel 50 and front panel 52. Side panel 46 has handle 54 to aid in carrying unit 10 when retractable handle 26 cannot be used. Panels 46, 48 and 50 are not removable, however front panel 52 is removable, in a similar manner to panels 34 and 44, to give access to lower compartment 16.
Unit 10 also has fixed top 56 and fixed bottom 58. Shelf 60, between upper compartment 12 and center compartment 14 is a grate, that is a frame of parallel bars. Shelf 62 between center compartment 14 and lower compartment 16 is also a grate. Shelf 60 has a cut-out opening 64 and shelf 62 has a similar cut-out opening 66, the purpose of which is explained below.
As shown in
Depicted in the
Lower fixed shelf 58 is utilized to carry electrical cords and plugs 78 that are necessary for plugging machine 68 into a power outlet. Power cord 78 can remain attached to machine 68 by passing through opening 66 in center shelf 62. Lower compartment 16 is large enough for the user to also pack a few clothes or other items, as desired.
All four panels of center compartment 14 need to be removed or lowered (
The unit of this invention provides a safe, secure, convenient and private method of not only transporting a medical device, such as a CPAP machine, but also allows the patient to use the medical machine while it remains stored in the unit, providing convenience and privacy. While a CPAP/BiPAP machine has been used in the description, examples of other medical devices that can be carried and transported by this unit include portable suction machines, portable oxygen tanks, nebulizer machines and humidifiers.
Having thus described the invention,
Safari, Hamid, Safari, Selina C.
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